Multi-band Radio Receiver Architecture with Shared Band-dependent Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
The duplication of band-dependent components in multi-antenna, multi-band radio receivers increases the size, cost, and battery consumption of mobile terminals, as they need to operate on multiple frequency bands, while existing designs often compromise performance when used outside their intended bands.
Innovation Solution
A front-end architecture where each receive chain includes band-independent components and a shared set of band-dependent components, with a switch to route signals from each antenna to the appropriate band-dependent components, eliminating the duplication of band-dependent components across multiple frequency bands, and using multiplexing to combine signals from both chains into a single analog signal for processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If band-dependent components are duplicated in each receive chain for multiple frequency bands, then the receiver can maintain good performance across all bands, but the size, cost, and weight of the terminal increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single receive chain that can handle multiple frequency bands through band-dependent components that are shared across bands. The band-dependent components (such as filters and amplifiers) are configured to operate across multiple bands rather than being dedicated to a single band, allowing one receive chain to serve multiple bands and reducing the need for duplication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple band-specific receive chains into a single receive chain. By combining the band-dependent components into a shared resource that serves multiple bands, the patent eliminates the need for separate receive chains for each band, thereby reducing weight while maintaining multi-band performance.
2Reliability
If band-dependent components are duplicated in each receive chain for multiple frequency bands, then the receiver can maintain good performance across all bands, but the cost of the terminal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces manufacturing cost by making band-dependent components universal across multiple bands. Instead of manufacturing separate components for each band, the same components are designed to operate across multiple bands, reducing bill of materials costs and simplifying the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple band-specific component sets into a single shared set of band-dependent components. This consolidation reduces the total number of components that need to be manufactured, assembled, and tested, thereby lowering overall manufacturing costs while maintaining multi-band functionality.
3Reliability
If band-dependent components are duplicated in each receive chain for multiple frequency bands, then the receiver can maintain good performance across all bands, but the battery consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces battery consumption by making band-dependent components universal and shared across multiple bands. Instead of having multiple active component sets that would all consume power simultaneously, the system uses a single set of components that is activated only when needed for specific bands, reducing overall power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple band-specific receive chains into a single receive chain with shared band-dependent components. This merging reduces the total number of active electronic components that consume power, thereby extending battery life while maintaining the ability to receive signals across multiple frequency bands.
4Reliability
If band-dependent components are duplicated in each receive chain for multiple frequency bands, then the receiver can maintain good performance across all bands, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies device complexity by making band-dependent components universal rather than band-specific. Instead of having separate receive chains for each band with their own dedicated components, the system uses a single receive chain with components that can be configured for multiple bands, reducing the overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple independent receive chains into a single integrated receive chain. This consolidation reduces the number of separate signal paths, component sets, and control logic required, thereby simplifying the overall device architecture while maintaining the capability to handle multiple frequency bands.
Data Source
AI summary
A front-end architecture and processing method for a receiver in a multi-antenna, multi-band radio. Band-dependent components for multiple frequency bands are not duplicated in each receive chain. In one embodiment, a first receive chain includes band-dependent components for the first frequency band only. A second receive chain includes band-dependent components for the second frequency band only. The receive chains may be dedicated to particular antennas, or a switch may be utilized to route signals from different antennas to the different band-dependent components. Each receive chain may include band-independent components, or a single set of band-independent components may be utilized for the different receive chains by multiplexing the output of the band-dependent component sections.